[HSF] endocarditis and AIDS

[Hgrmd at aol.com]

Dear Rashid,
  I don't take any particular precautions in patients with known HIV  
positivity.  I figure virtually all patients could be positive, so I try to  careful 
on everyone.  I saw my first AIDS patient in '84 as a general  surgery 
resident in Baltimore.  As of last year, I remain negative.  I  think that is a 
testament to the fact that the real risk of catching the virus  as a surgeon isn't 
all that high.  My understanding is that there hasn't  been documented 
transmission of the disease with solid needle sticks.   Since that is the vast 
majority of our exposure, we should be reasonably  safe.  Besides, I've heard of 
very few surgeons contracting the disease  from their patients.
 
Hal



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